Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonlance. Wizards of the Coast does.

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It's my favorite class right now. Fourth hour, Honors Chemistry. Teacher, Bradley Davidson. We're in the lab now- I'm partnered with Lynn Tybrczcyk. We're both passionate about chemistry, so we're an ideal lab group.

I whisper to myself as I fill the pipet. "9 molar hydrochloric..." Lynn is chatting with Adrian Jeffries. Doesn't she know it's painfully obvious how much she likes him? Level the pipet over the test tube... I feel a bit light-headed, I'll go tell Mr. Davidson as soon as I start this reaction...

I'm falling backwards. The HCl squirts out of the pipet and hits Adrian full in the chest. My setup goes flying. I'm powerless to do anything. A sudden pain in the back of my head, and the blackness envelops me.

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"Finally." My eyes open at the sound of a familiar voice. "Shalafi was getting worried." Eyelids flicker. Standing before me is the elf from my dream, still grinning in that most irritating manner. He sits beside my bed. "Welcome to the Halls of Nuitari."

"What are you talking about? Adrian, are you... no, you can't! I saw the hydrochloric hit you!" All the rubbing at my eyes doesn't change a thing. "Who ARE you?"

  "Just an archmage the world forgot." The wolfish grin doesn't change. "Can you stand, child?"

  I step out of the single bed, pulling off my lab goggles as I walk. "Why am I here? This isn't chemistry."

  "The Devouring Dark has been trying to summon you here for near two fortnights." He mentions as we stride toward the majestic obsidian doors. He sets his hand on it to push them open.

  "Four weeks… that's when my dreams began!" I realize. "So this Devouring Dark-"

  "Quiet." He lifts a finger to his lips. The door inches open, slowly, majestically. "My lord, the child has awaken."

   "Thank you, Dalamar." A voice, another voice, so familiar, so resounding, echoes from the onyx throne in the center of the room. My guide steps out of the room, the doors close with a great thud. The throne rotates, and I see Him. The central figure, with eyes like storm. "My daughter." He smiles, something akin to pride burning in the eye of the storm. "Welcome home."

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   "Gwen!" My eyes flutter open again. Did I have another fainting spell?

   "Dalamar? Father?" I look around, see only Lynn. "Lynn? Why am I here? Why am I not at home?"

   "Chill, Gwen. You've only been out five minutes. Your dad's on the way." She tries to soothe me. "What's the matter?"

   "Er… nothing. Is Adrian alright?" I ask, falsifying concern. Don't get me wrong- I like Adrian well enough, but he isn't exactly on the top of my mind at the moment.

   "He has the honor of being the first student to ever have to use the safety shower." She tries to joke, but she is genuinely worried. "He's already headed out to the hospital."

   "Gwen?" the receptionist calls. "Your father's here."

   "My father resides in the Halls of Nuitari." I mutter as I walk out of the room.